BT to enable iPhone users Wi-Fi at coffee shops

More than 650 Starbucks coffeehouses in the UK and Ireland will enable their customers to access the internet via BT-supplied Wi-Fi, it has been revealed.

The telecommunications group announced this week it had started to roll out the relevant technology and will complete the project by the end of this summer.

BT Openzone users will be able to surf the web, make Voice over Internet Protocol calls or email using the Wi-Fi, while those who own an Apple iPhone on the O2 network will also be allowed to go online.

Chief executive officer of BT Openzone Chris Bruce said the company was always looking to increase the number of places its customers can connect to the net.

“Starbucks is the perfect place to work or catch up over email. Use of our Wi-Fi doubled last year and coffee shops are increasingly popular as a third place to work or log on,” he explained.

Those who are thinking of recycling their current handset might want to have a look at what the iPhone offers if they want to be able to surf the web.